Archive of posts tagged hot water
Insulation
Insulation should be applied in: Attic, or roof if there is no attic Crawlspace External facing walls Around ventilation ducts (to at least R-8) Insulation should be applied after careful air sealing to close off all places for air leakage. Except for closed cell foam which acts like a sealant, most insulation materials allow air […]
Shower Heads
Everyone enjoys a nice long hot shower. It does come with some cost for the water and don’t forget the associated cost to heat the water. The ideal situation is to apply the water only toward the person and avoid as much as waste as possible. Current federal standards require that shower heads deliver no […]
Faucets That Save Water
Easy To Reduce Usage Lowering the faucet flow rate not only saves water but also the energy that is needed to heat the water. One quick and really inexpensive way to reduce flow at the faucet is to install an aerator. Some aerators cost as little as $1 each. All aerators sold in the US […]
Saving Water with an On Demand Recirculation Pump
Everyone knows the frustration in waiting for the hot water to come out of the faucet in the morning. Because a single hot water tank is often placed in one end of the house such as the garage and the bathrooms are situated at the opposite end, it is not unusual to have to wait […]
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is a result of incomplete combustion of fossil fuels such as natural gas, wood, or petroleum products. It is colorless and odorless but toxic. Acute poisoning (exposure to high levels at once) can cause neurological damages and can be fatal. Chronic poisoning (exposure to lower levels for long periods of time) can cause […]
Conservation Comes With Comfort
A couple of months ago, I visited an early adopter of green remodeling in the Bay Area. She has been making changes to her home since over a decade ago, before energy efficiency gets on the minds of most people. Starting in the late 1990’s, she had windows changed to dual pane units, installed attic […]
An Integrated Approach to Home Energy Improvement
As a general contractor and energy assessor, I believe understanding both the local and global impacts of energy consumption are important. As a traditional home builder I have always built with quality craftsmanship. While this served me well for many years, it was not until three years ago that I began to really explore in-depth […]